How to Apply a Sterile Hoof Bandage
You will need:
3 clean towels
Sterile exam gloves
Sterile scrub brush
Bucket
Hibiclens
Xeroform (5” X 9” squares work best)
Sterile Cotton Roll
Kerlix bandage - 3 rolls
Vet wrap -- 4” -- have several rolls handy
XL Deluxe Equine Slipper by Bluegrass Equine Products
This process is much easier if you have an assistant to hand you what you need as you go. Be sure to have your assistant scrub his or her hands and wear exam gloves to hand the supplies to you.
Before you begin, pick all of the debris you can out of the hoof with a hoof pick.
Lay out one of the clean towels upon which to assemble your supplies.
Prepare a bucket with Hibiclens solution (see labeling for dilution).
Scrub your hands with Hibiclens and don your sterile gloves.
Using your sterile scrub brush, thoroughly scrub the hoof with the Hibiclens solution.
Place a clean towel on the ground in case you have to set the foot down. Use another clean towel to pat the hoof dry.
Apply Xeroform to cover the bottom of the hoof. A single layer is fine.
Pad the bottom of the foot and around the tip of toe liberally with the cotton. Be generous -- we used 3 layers in our example.
Wrap the padded foot securely with the Kerlix bandage.
Wrap the entire bandage with vet wrap.
Make sure that the vet wrap is not tight at the top of the bandage!
To keep dirt from sneaking in the top of the bandage, wrap the leg loosely with vet wrap as well. Start at the top, and wrap down to the bandaged foot, layering over the foot bandage. BE SURE NOT TO WRAP THE LEG TIGHTLY. Never pull on the vet wrap as you come around the leg.
Slide the Equine Slipper over the bandage and secure the velcro.
This dressing should be changed daily!
To remove the bandage, use a pair of scissors to cut down each side and at the back of the bandage, first through the vet wrap, then through the Kerlix. If you will be rebandaging, have a clean towel ready to set the foot down on, and begin the process again.
A special thanks to our guest and orthopedic OR nurse, Maren Thompson, and our very obliging horse model, Big Bad Leroy Brown!
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